Bhakti Fest: More than a Festival
Get ready to roll out your yoga mat and kick start those Chakras, because Bhakti Fest is back for its13th edition, and it’s set to be more magical than ever.
Imagine… You, under thousands of stars, surrounded by the ineffable beauty of Joshua Tree, soaking up a weekend full of soul-stirring music, transformative yoga sessions, and enough good vibes to keep you floating all year long. If you know, you know: it’s not just a festival, it’s a pilgrimage into the heart of Love.
The heart of you.
The Heartbeat of Bhakti Fest
Bhakti Fest has long been a mecca for spiritual seekers, musicians, yogis and those on a path of devotion. At the heart of this festival, where community and spirituality intertwine, is music, especially Grammy nominated musician Krishna Das, a longtime Bhakti headliner known for his deeply moving Kirtan performances.
Kirtan has its roots in India and is essentially a call-and-response ‘singing’ of mantras, sacred sounds that often include the names of gods and goddesses.The word “kirtan” comes from a Sanskrit root that means “to call, recite, praise, or glorify” and is a way to connect with God, the divine, source, Universe, or whatever you want to call it.
Over the years, Krishna Das has drawn thousands into a shared space of love, devotion, and community and if Bhakti Fest is the epicenter, then Kirtan is the steady, rhythmic heartbeat that fuels coherence.
But Krishna Das’s journey to becoming the world’s most famous Kirtan singer wasn’t exactly written in the stars—it was more like a cosmic re-route to destiny.
From Rock and Roll Dreams to Spiritual Awakening
Before Krishna Das was leading mass Kirtans, he was just another young guy with rock star dreams. He was even on the cusp of joining a band that would become the legendary Blue Oyster Cult. But fate—maybe karma—had other plans.
A chance meeting with spiritual teacher Ram Dass began a whole new trajectory of his life. One moment in Ram Dass’s presence, Krishna Das knew he longed for something bigger and deeper than fame, something that would take him far beyond the flashing lights of the stage and into the depths of his own soul. His own heart.
This encounter later led him to India, where he met Neem Karoli Baba, affectionately known as Maharaj-ji. Maharaj-ji had a deep love for chanting, because chanting is a way to connect more deeply with the divine and your own heart.
Maharaj-ji, who would become his guru and the foundation of his spiritual path, didn’t just alter the course of Krishna Das’s life; he was a catalyst for his whole new purpose. His dharma.
Kirtan: More Than Just a Jam Session
At first glance, Kirtan might look like a group sing-along, but don’t let the simplicity fool you. Kirtan is a spiritual practice, a form of meditation where repetition is key. Krishna Das advises against the common misconception that the spiritual path is about getting something you don’t have. “It’s about uncovering what’s already there. It’s about peeling back the layers of the ego, not by doing something new, but by uncovering what’s always been there—Love. We’re gradually bringing our hearts out into the sun of love.”
There is much research being done today on the power of sound for healing, but for Krishna Das it’s not about the science or the mechanics behind it; it’s about the spiritual essence of the practice. “Chanting, singing, and simply BEING in the moment with the music—these are the things that bring us closer to the divine, to each other, and to our own hearts.”
Chant Like No One is Listening
As the desert sky fills with music, Krishna Das’s harmonium and the voices of hundreds chanting along, something magical starts to happen. You’re not just listening to music and singing along; you transcend and become part of something bigger—a collective heartbeat; the pulse of the universe.
A Spiritual Playground for All
Kirtan not your thing? Bhakti Fest is a curator of sacred sound, hosting non-stop conscious music and chants across various musical genres, including blues, rock, pop, gospel, traditional, and hip-hop.
Bhakti Fest isn’t just for the seasoned spiritual seeker. Whether you’re a devoted yogi, a curious newbie, or just someone who likes their music with a side of Yoga, there’s something here for you. And it’s all happening in one of the most mystical places on Earth—Joshua Tree, California. The festival takes place at the Joshua Lake & Campground on September 27-29, 2024.
Got little ones? No worries. Bhakti Fest is a family-friendly, drug-free event with a vibrant Kidsland where the youngest attendees can find their own inner peace. Plus, there are discounts for seniors, veterans, locals, and students, so you can bring the whole crew.
Camping Under the Milky Way
Nothing evokes “spiritual awakening” quite like sleeping and dreaming under a blanket of stars in the high desert. Especially during summer months when the Milky Way is most visible. So, whether you’re pitching a tent, parking an RV, or settling into ‘van life,’ you’ll be doing it with the kind of serenity you can only find in the desert.
Of course, if roughing it isn’t your thing, there are plenty of local hotels, Airbnbs, and vacation homes nearby. But wherever you stay, just remember: no alcohol, no cigarettes, and definitely no drugs. Bhakti Fest is all about getting high on life—and maybe some cosmic desert vibes.
“The Greatest Conscious Party EVER!”
Always featuring a world-class lineup of musicians and yoga instructors, conscious vendors, workshops, and artisans, attendees describe the festival as “being immersed in the greatest conscious party you have ever experienced!”
So, whether you’re coming for the Kirtan, the yoga, the workshops, or just the experience of being in a place where love and devotion fill the air, Bhakti Fest is the place to be. And who knows? You might just find what you’ve been searching for has been inside you all along: Love.
From sunrise yoga sessions to late-night sound baths Bhakti is designed to nourish your body, mind, and soul. So, pack your bags, grab your mat, and get ready to celebrate 13 years of Bhakti Fest. See you there, Krishna Das and fellow Yogis! Namaste. Buy tickets to Bhakti Fest and learn more here!
©Rossana Jeran 8.21.24 for LA Yoga Magazine.
Rossana Jeran is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hello Computer, Inc., a social purpose company that is passionate about creating Mobile Apps that blur the lines of education and entertainment. They are the creators of the award-winning “StoryTime International” Mobile app, that translates and reads aloud in 137 languages, promoting literacy and imagination for Preschoolers, Kindergarteners and early readers worldwide. She studied Psychology and Communications at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and is a social Entrepreneur. Her diverse background includes social work, arts management, philanthropy, private equity, the dotcom Tech industry and Hollywood; by way of her work with music industry legend, Freddy DeMann, former Manager of Madonna, Michael Jackson, The Eagles, Billy Idol, Perry Farrell, Macy Gray and Shakira. Rossana is a published writer, a public speaker, an award winning Media Artist and bi-lingual, speaking Spanish fluently as a second language. Most recently she spoke at the Los Angeles County Women’s Leadership Conference (2022), the World Literacy Summit (2023) at Oxford University in the UK and most recently featured as a rising Entrepreneur in Vision Magazine, a subsidiary of Palm Springs Life Magazine. Her work as the Business Manager of Grand Arts (The Margaret Hall Silva Foundation) exposed her to the non-profit sector, managing the organization’s business, budget and philanthropic affairs while producing shows for some of the best National and International visual Artists every eight weeks. In 2010 she founded Fit Conscious Happy, a lifestyle coaching practice that guides people to reach their highest potential using fitness and Meditation for complete mind/body wellness. Rossana is certified by the Chopra Institute as a Primordial Sound Meditation Teacher and teaches Mindset and Mindfulness meditation online as well as in and around Southern California and beyond. A true and well-balanced dichotomy, Rossana balances her life between entrepreneurial work, and her passion for helping people. She believes literacy, imagination and technology are human rights. More info: www.rossanajeran.com